Athens international airport Eleftherios Venizelos, Greece's largest and busiest airport, is once again grappling with a severe crisis following a significant technical failure that has resulted in passenger concerns and flight delays. This incident was caused by a malfunction in the radar data transmission system, which partially 'blinded' the approach routes in Athens, highlighting ongoing issues with critical aviation infrastructure in Greece.

Olga Toki, the Vice President of the Air Traffic Controllers Association, remarked in an interview that these problems are long-standing, having existed for decades. She emphasized that resolving the infrastructural issues that have accumulated over the years will require time, stating, "We are simply faced with these issues, as evidenced by the recent blackout in the FIR that we experienced a month ago. We do not consider this a minor incident."

When questioned about the possibility of future blackouts, Toki indicated that without adequate improvements and infrastructure overhauls, there is a risk of recurrence. Thus, the situation at the Athens FIR not only raises immediate concerns for flight safety and reliability but also signals a need for urgent attention to aviation infrastructure in Greece to prevent further disruptions and maintain public trust in the air travel system.